Pencil



J. P. LYNN Feb'. 14, 1933.

PENCIL Original Filed Jan. 5. 1928 Patented Feb. 14, 19.33`

UNITED STA'ES .bulli JOHN P. LYNN, OF SYCAIORE, ILLNOIS, ASSEGNO?, T DUR-O-LITE PENCIL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPDRATION OF ELLNOS :PEN CIL Application filed This invention relates to a pencil having mechanical ine-ans for propelling, retracti or expelling a lead through its tip portion.

he niechanisni employer ot the screwoperat-ed type actuated by rotation of one part relative to another. l

rlhe principal objects realized bythis vention are simplicity in construction and operation; expulsion ot' the 1read following the exhaustion of its serviceable portion; and protection to the operating parte against accident or tampering incident to us( These and other objects of my invention will inore clearly hereinafter appear in the specification and clainis taken in conjunction with the accoinpa ying drawing which illustrates a suggestive embodiment of the present pencil in the inanner following:

Figirre 1 is a longitudinal section taken ceni trally through the lower portion of a pencil showing in its entirety the operating mechaI nisni which is in one extreme position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the propeller advanced to its opposite liinit so as to expel a lead troni the pencil;

Fig. 3 is a similar view or" the pencil tip detached troni the pencil body;

Fig. d is a transverse section taken on line 1 4 of 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the axial tube detached from the tip Awith which it no `iiially occupiesa fixed relation;

6 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation, and partly in section, of the lead carrier detached troni the propeller` with which it is inseparably associated.

In the present pencil l combine with a body A a relatively rotatable part, such as the tip B. The body is provided with a slotted axial bore 8 through which may slide non-rotatably a screw-threaded propeller 9 iaving a head 10 at one end thereof. This bore in the body extends upwardly troni its lower end for a dista-nce suthcient to accent inodate the propeller, as suggested in Fig. 1. In its lower region the bore nia-y be slightly widened to receive an enlarged end or head l1 of a tube 12 which extends down within the Renewed June A30, 1932.

tip close to its lower end. r)The walls of the tip are preferably tapered, as shown, except at the upper end 13 where they are straightened up to loosely surround the adjacent end of the body. The tube 12 is supported fixedly within the tip as by having` its lower end engaged with the tapering walls thereof and having a connection between its head 11 held in place by the spring torce which isv outwardly exerted by the sections 18 against the walls or the bore in which the saine is received. At the upper extremity of the tube provide a constricted neck 19 having internal threads 2O with which the screw threads of the propeller niay co-operate. At its lower end the propeller is of reduced diameter to provide a ypin 21. At the juncture of the pin with the propeller l provide a lateral projection 22 which is disposed within arlead carrier in the forni of a sleeve 23 having its opposite end portions of slightly reduced diameter'. Adjacent these reduced end portions the sleeve walls are configured to provide upper and lower shoulders 24e and 24a, respectively. The constricted upper sleeve end 25 is provided with. internal threads 2S adapted to coi-operate with the screw threads of the propeller. The lower` sleeve end 27 terminates by preference in a head 28 having a beveled throat 29 upon the interior thereof. Also in tie reduced lower sleeve end, l provide one or more slits 3() which deline spring sections adapted to grip between theni one end of a lead C which is insertable thro-ugh the tip for connection with the carrier. At its lower extremity the Vwalls of the tip are thickened as at 31 to provide a cylindrical guideway which aligns Cil a lead co-axially with the pencil when inserted for connection with the carrier. The securement of the lead in place is further facilitated by the beveled throat 29 which is provided at the lower extremity of the carrier. Y

In operation the pencil mechanism performs as follows: A rotation of the pencil body relative to its tip `will produce a longitudinal travel of' the propeller which also is rotated with the body by reason of the sliding non-rotative engagement of its head l0 within the slotted bore 8. rlhe end of the propeller pin 2l is normally abutting the lead C which is held in the` carrier'so that the latter is required also to turn with the propeller. Near the lower limit of its movement the carrier will abut the tapered walls of the tip whereupon its advance will be arrested. The propeller, however, may continue to advance -with the result that its pin end 2l will expel the lead C from the carrier,

and eject the saine from the pencil tip. In this position the parts are related as in Fig. 2.

To reload the pencil a new lead is inserted through the tip. Preliminary to this operation the propeller should lirst be retracted, and this may be done by a reversal of the turning movements just described. By de-V taching the tip from the pencil body and applying` a turning force to the propeller head 10 which is then exposed formanipulation, this screwing back operation may be expedited. During the return movement of the propeller the carrier will initially remain stationary, due to the light `friction applied thereto by the spring sections 16 until the projection 22 on the propeller has backed up to the upper shoulder 24 of the carrier. Further retraction of the` :propeller will thereupon lcause a corresponding travel of the carrier until the parts are backed up to their limit, as shown in Fig. l. At any desired point. in this propeller retraction, a. new lead C may be inserted through the tip and receive guidance from the wall 3l thereof so as to enter the throated end ofthe carrier by which it is then gripped with a spring action.

rI`he action of the parts is peculiar in particulars as follows: The propeller is movable both with and independently of the carrier.` `This results from the fact that between these parts there is a screw-threaded connection which permits the propeller to turn relative to the carrier only when the lead U 1s being or has been expelled from the latter. Nornially the carrier engages the lead with suficient friction to oppose any advance of the propeller relative to the carrier, but when progress of the carrier is positively arrested by its abutting the tapering walls of the tip, then further actuation of the lparts can only result in the propeller continuing its forward movement with a consequent dislodgment of the lead. Between the propeller and carrier there is accordingly a slip connection which Y is normally inoperative whenever a lead is positioned in the latter. The extent of possible slippage is determined by the spacing between the upper and lower shoulders 24. There is also this further characteristic, namely, that the lead, during its travel through the pencil, is advanced non-rotat-` ably relative to the propeller. The lower tip" end furnishes a loose guide or support forthe lead and may be strongly fashioned so as to be durable in service. Y The actual retention of the lead is performed by the carrier which at all times is afforded completo body, a screw-threaded propeller adapted for longitudinal travel within the bore of the body and through the tube of the tip, threads formed at the upper tube end for co-operation with the screw threads of the propeller', .iff

means Yfor preventing rotation of the propeller during longitudinal travel thereof within the bore, an extension of reduced diameter at the lower propeller end, means projecting laterally from the propeller at appoint adjacent its juncture'with the extension at the lower end thereof, a sleeve having screw threads for vco-operation with the threads of the propeller and mounted at the lower end thereof to surround the reduced extensionr1 aforesaid, means-at the lower sleeve end for gripping one end ofv a lead, means at the lower tip end for guiding a lead during its in and out movements through the tip, spring means for applying to the sleeve a light fricr tion such that it tends to oppose rotation with the propeller, and means .on the sleeve cooperatingv with the projection of the propeller for preventing separation of the sleeve from. the propeller, substantially as de- 'f scribed. j Y Y 2. In combination, a pencil in which is comprised a body having an axial bore eX- tending inward from the lower end thereof and having guide ways, a tip, an axial tube 'f connected fast with the tip and receivable within the bore for'estblishing a frictional connection therewith, a screw threaded propeller having a head cooperating with the guide ways in the bore of the body for nonrotatable travel therethrough, screw threads on the tube for CoA-operating with those of the propeller for advancing the latter when the tip` is rotated relative to the pencil body, land a lead carrier mounted for limited tra-vel i l.

with the propeller at the lower end thereot having means for engaging with a lead whereby to propelor retract the same, substantially as described.

3. ln combination, a pencil in which is comprised a body having an aXial slotted bore, a tip provided wit-h an axial tube receivable in part within the bore of the body and adapted to engage frictionally therewith wherby to secure the tip removably to the pencil body, a screw threaded propeller having a guiding head longitudinally slidable through the slotted bore, screw means in the tube for co-operating with the threads of the propeller for advancing the same when the tip is rotated relative to the pencil body, and means havino threaded engagement with the propeller adapted to grip a lead to advance or retract the same through the tip, substantially as described.

el. ln combination with a pencil in which is comprised a body and a tip, At'rictionally secured together and one rotatable relative to the other, screw means operatively associated wth the tip and body and movable through yhe body and tip in response to relative rotation therebetween, and a lead carrier having threaded engagement with the screw means for propelling or retracting a lead through the tip, substantially as described.

5. ln combination with a pencil having a v ody and tip in relatively rotatable relation, neans providing a removable connection beiween the tip and body, means at the lower ip end forming a guide through which ead may be freely moved, a carrier havingl neans to grip the inner end of a lead, and screw means threaded into said carrier and having operative connection with trie body and tip whereby to advance the carrier through a predetermined distance and then continue a further movement relative to the carrier, substantially as described.

ln combination with a pencil in which is comprised a body and a tip, frictionally secured together and one rotatable relative to the other, a lead carrier mounted in the tip, screw means co-operating with the carrier and the body adapted upon relative rotation between the two parts to advance the carrier in either direction, and means providing a. screw threaded connection between the carrier and said screw means, substantially as described.

7. A pencil in which is comprised two separable relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier having limited movement in one part, propelling means for the lea-d carrier co-operating with the other part, and means providing a screw threaded connection between the carrier and the propeller adapted on continued rotation of the parts to produce a lesser longitudinal movement of the former enlarged upper end thereof, means for curing one end of a lead to the carrier, guiding mea-ns the ti p extremity through which the lead may be freely moved, a pin within the carrier in abutting relationto the presi mate end of the lead, a screw-threaded. proe peller from one end of which thefpin is eX-- tended, screw means on both the tube and carrier adapted to co-operate with the threads of the propeller, and means in the tube for retarding rotation of the carrier therewthin, substantially as described.

9. A pencil in which is comprised a tip having an aria-l tube, a guide at the lower tip end through which the lead may move, a sleeve movable through the tube having` means for gripping the inner end of a lead, the entrance to the sleeve being throated whereby to facilitate positioning of the lead therewithin, screw means co-operating with the sleeve and abutting the end of the lead therein for advancing the sleeve through the tube, and a pencil body with which the tip is separably connected having means co-operating with the screw means whereby upon rotation of the tip relative to the body the screw means is operated to move the sleeve in either of two directions, substantially as described.

10. A pencil in which is comprised two rel-- atively rotatable parts in end to end relation, a tube connected fast with one of said parts, a tubular lead carrier slidable within the tube, and means operable by the other of said parts and slidable relative thereto, adapted to engage a lead in the carrier, said means having a screw-threaded connection Awith the tube and the carrier to propelvthe carrier therewithin, substantially as described.

l1. A pencil in which is comprised two relatively rotatable parts, means slidable aXially of one part and operable thereby having a screw-threaded connection with the other part, and a tubular lead carrier having a threaded connection with said means and adapted to abut the lead of the carrier whereby to advance the carrier a distance less than the travel limit of said slidable means, substantially as described.

12. A pencil in which is comprised two relatively rotatable parts, a tubular lead carrier movable axially of one part, and threaded means operable by the other part and slidable relatively thereto connected directly with the carrier and abutting the lead therein for V14. A pencil in whichis comprisedy two relatively rotatable parts, a tubular lead carrier movable axially through one part, spring means for applying-friction to the carrier during movements thereof, screw means'op-` erable by the other partl slidable relative thereto, and adapted to abut the lead therein to transmit motion to the carrier, substantially as described. l

15. In combination, in a pencil, a movable lead carrier, propelling means operatively connected therewith for relative movement to advance a lead therethrouglnand means for preventing relative movement therebetween in both directions, whereby said carrier is moved with said propelling means as a unit.

16. In combination, in a pencil,`a movable lead carrier, propelling lmeans threaded in said carrier and movable therein, and stops on said carrier and propelling means to limit said relative movement in both directions.

17. In combination, in a pencil, a movabley leadcarrier having contracted ends and an intermediate portion of larger diameter, a propeller threaded into said carrier and relatively adjustable therein, and a projection on said propeller adapted to contact with the contracted ends of said carrier to limit saidV relative movement in both directions.

18. In combination Ywith a pencil having a body and tip in relatively rotatable relation, means providing a removable connection between thetip and body, means at the lower tip end forming a guide through which a lead maybe freely moved, a carrier adapted to grip the inner end of a lead, and screw means actuated by relative rotation between the body and tip adapted to advance the carrier through a predetermined distance, said screw means being threaded tosaid carrier to permit a further movement relative to the carrier, substantially as described.

19. In combination with' a pencil in which is comprised a body and ak tip, frictionally secured together and one rotatable relative to the other, a lead carrier mounted in the tip, screw means co-operating with the carrier and the body adapted upon relative rotation between the two parts to advance the Acarrier in either direction, and meansproviding a threaded connection between the carrier and said screw means, substantially as described.

20. A pencil comprising two separable carrier and the propeller, whereby upon contmuedrotation of one part relative to the" other a longitudinal movement of the carrier is produced in response to a portion only of the endwise travel of the latter, substantially as described.: r

21. A pencil in which is comprised two relatively rotatable parts, means slidable axially of one part and operable thereby having a screw-threaded connection with the other part, and a lead carrier mounted for limited movement with said means and having a threaded connection therewith whereby toy be advanced a distance less than the travel limit of said slidable-means, substantially as described.

' JOHN P. LYNN. 

